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Apoorva Goel is an Indian professional tournament poker player based in New Delhi, India.
A veteran of the Indian international tournament circuit, Goel first made headlines on the Asian circuit over a decade ago when he became the first Indian player to capture an Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) title in Macau in 2013.
Known for his disciplined table demeanor, freezeout stamina, and adaptability across both European and Asian circuits, Goel has amassed over $636,000 in live tournament earnings, placing him comfortably inside the top 20 on India’s All-Time Money List.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Apoorva Goel has accumulated $636,121 in live tournament earnings across 62 recorded cashes.
Goel's career-best live tournament cash came in February 2017 at Macau Poker Cup 26 at the City of Dreams.
In the flagship HK$ 15,000 Red Dragon Event, Goel outlasted the vast majority of a 1,216-player field to finish in 3rd place for HK$ 1,163,000 (~$149,890).
Over recent seasons, Goel has maintained an active international footprint spanning Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia:
93rd place in the Aussie Millions Main Event in Melbourne (May 2026) for A$ 20,020 (~$14,350).
23rd place in the EPT Cyprus $10,300 High Roller (Oct 2024) for $35,200.
13th place in the WPT Cambodia Championship (Feb 2025) for $28,500.
41st place in the EPT Monte-Carlo Main Event (May 2025) for €17,150 (~$19,385).
51st place in the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout in Taipei (Nov 2025) for NT$ 727,800 (~$23,222).
Biography & Poker Background
Apoorva Goel is one of the foundational figures of Indian tournament poker. He began playing live poker in the early 2010s in Goa before venturing abroad.
In November 2013, he achieved national recognition at the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Asian Series Macau, taking down the HK$ 11,000 6-Handed event to become the first Indian to win an APT trophy in Macau.
Over the decade that followed, Goel transitioned into a true global grinder:
Macau Dragon Run: In February 2017, he reached the final table of the prestigious Macau Poker Cup 26 Red Dragon, finishing 3rd out of 1,216 entries for nearly $150,000.
European Poker Tour (EPT) Crusher: Between 2022 and 2025, Goel became a regular face on the PokerStars European Poker Tour, booking deep runs in Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Cyprus, and consecutive Main Event cashes in Monte-Carlo.
2026 Season: Competed across Cambodia and Australia, notching two cashes at the 2026 Aussie Millions in Melbourne, including the AU$10,000 Main Event.
Play Style & Strategy
Goel’s tournament profile is anchored by deep-structure patience and multi-street pot control:
Championship Pacing: Prefers deep multi-day structures (such as EPT, WPT and Aussie Millions Main Events), where his patient pre-flop selection and focus on chip preservation allow him to outlast recreational aggression.
High-Roller Experience: Proven track record in $10K European High Rollers, adjusting comfortably against world-class lineups by restricting speculative ranges and sizing bets with precision.
Mixed-Game Competence: Demonstrates versatility beyond pure No-Limit Hold'em, occasionally competing in Pot-Limit Omaha and 8-Game formats (evidenced by his cash in the Aussie Millions NLH/PLO mix).
